Maggette Tries to Be Patient

Corey Maggette was drafted by Seattle in 1999 but never played a game for the SuperSonics because he was traded to Orlando minutes after he was selected.

Maggette then played limited minutes as a rookie before being traded to the Clippers during the off-season. Joining a young team was supposed to give him an opportunity to develop with more playing time, but 10 games into the season Maggette has barely broken a sweat.

“It’s getting a little old,” said Maggette, who did not play in the Clippers’ victory at Vancouver on Thursday and is last on the team in minutes played this season.

” I feel that everyone knows I should be out there. Even my teammates. . . . What else can I do but continue to work hard.”

Instead of moping, Maggette has been one of the bench leaders supporting his teammates on the court. It’s not uncommon for him to give a player or a coach helpful advice about something going on in the game.

But sitting instead of playing isn’t easy.

“I keep my faith in God and continue to pray,” Maggette said. “I’m glad that we’re winning, but I would love to play. That’s no question. . . . I will continue to work hard and I guess if things don’t work out here, I’ll have to go somewhere else to play.”

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Another player doing more watching than playing lately is rookie Darius Miles. After not playing in the Clippers’ win over New York on Wednesday, Miles played 12 minutes against the Grizzlies and did not score.

One reason Miles did not score is that he did not take a shot. But he may have played one of his best games, defending Vancouver’s versatile Shareef Abdur-Rahim and veteran Grant Long.

Miles said his time on the bench has helped him see things a little differently.

“I’m starting to realize that I was rushing a lot of shots when I was in the game,” Miles said. “Now, I’m trying to learn something new and help us win. It’s not a big thing for me to score, and that’s what I was thinking. I was going into games thinking it was a big thing to put my name on the board.

“Now, I’d rather have 10 blocks than 30 points. I’ve been told that I could be one of the best defensive players in the league if I work, and that’s what I’m going to work on.”

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Power forward Brian Skinner is questionable for tonight’s game against Seattle because of an ankle injury suffered early against Vancouver on Thursday. If Skinner is unable to play, Coach Alvin Gentry has a couple of options: veteran Derek Strong, who replaced Skinner and played well in 42 minutes at Vancouver; big man Sean Rooks, who would match up in size against Seattle’s Vin Baker; or Lamar Odom, who has started two games at power forward already this season.

TONIGHT

vs. Seattle, 7:30

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 4-6, SuperSonics 3-7.

* Record vs. SuperSonics (1999-2000)--1-3.

* Update--Thanks to a victory to end last season, the Clippers own a one-game winning streak over Seattle, but they’ve lost 25 of the last 28 games played between the teams.

* Tickets--(800) 462-2849.